Processes for the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine and intermediates related thereto

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides processes, methods and intermediates for the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, salts, hydrates and crystal forms thereof which are useful as serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists for the treatment of, for example, central nervous system disorders such as obesity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/225,966 filed Jan. 14, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,168,782 entitled “Processes For The Preparation Of 8-Chloro-1-Methyl-2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1H-3-Benzazepine And Intermediates Related Thereto,” which is a 35 USC 371 National Stage Entry of PCT/US2007/008170 filed Apr. 2, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/789,191 filed Apr. 3, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides processes, methods and intermediates for the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, salts, hydrates and crystal forms thereof which are useful as serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists for the treatment of, for example, central nervous system disorders such as obesity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission plays an important role in numerous physiological processes both in health and in psychiatric disorders. For example, 5-HT has been implicated in the regulation of feeding behavior. 5-HT is believed to work by inducing a feeling of fullness or satiety so eating stops earlier and fewer calories are consumed. It has been shown that a stimulatory action of 5-HT on the 5HT_(2C) receptor plays an important role in the control of eating and in the anti-obesity effect of d-fenfluramine. As the 5-HT_(2C) receptor is expressed in high density in the brain (notably in the limbic structures, extrapyramidal pathways, thalamus and hypothalamus i.e. PVN and DMH, and predominantly in the choroid plexus) and is expressed in low density or is absent in peripheral tissues, a selective 5-HT_(2C) receptor agonist can be a more effective and safe anti-obesity agent. Also, 5-HT_(2C) knockout mice are overweight with cognitive impairment and susceptibility to seizure. Thus, the 5HT_(2C) receptor is recognized as a well-accepted receptor target for the treatment of obesity, psychiatric, and other disorders.

In view of the growing demand for compounds for the treatment of disorders related to the 5-HT_(2C) receptor, new and more efficient routes to 3-benzazepines are needed. The processes and compounds described herein help meet these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The processes and intermediates of the present invention are useful in the preparation of therapeutic agents for the treatment or prophylaxis of 5-HT mediated disorders such as obesity and other central nervous system diseases.

The present invention provides, inter alia, processes and intermediates for preparing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine having Formula (I), salts and crystal form thereof:

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (I) is the R enantiomer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The processes and intermediates of the present invention are useful in the preparation of the therapeutic agents of Formula (I), salts and crystal form thereof. Compounds of Formula (I) are useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of 5-HT associated disorders such as obesity and other central nervous system diseases.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is the starting material for the preparation of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, HCl salts and a crystal form thereof.

Certain processes for the preparation of Compounds of Formula (I) and salts thereof are disclosed in PCT Patent Publication, WO2005/019179. One particular process has been disclosed for the preparation of a certain crystal form of the Compound of Formula (Ia) in PCT Patent Publication, WO2006/069363.

Several improvements have now been discovered for the processes useful in the preparation of Compounds of Formula (I), salts and crystal form thereof. These improvements are described herein.

Conversion of commercially available compound, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride (Stages 1 to 3)

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride can be prepared in three stages from the commercially available compound, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol, according to the process depicted in Synthetic Scheme 1.1.

In some embodiments, the product that is prepared from a stage is not isolated. In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is converted to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride without isolation.

Stage 1—Conversion of 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol to 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide

In Stage 1, the 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol was reacted with phosphorous tribromide to give 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide. The product was isolated directly from an aqueous quench without the need of an extractive solvent.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide in the absence of solvent.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method of reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide comprising the steps:

adding phosphorous tribromide to 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol at a temperature of less than about 10° C. to form a bromination reaction mixture; and

heating the bromination reaction mixture at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 30° C. and subsequently at a temperature of about 75° C. to about 85° C.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method comprising heating the bromination reaction mixture at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 30° C. and is maintained at this temperature for about 1 hour to about 3 hours.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method comprising heating the bromination reaction mixture at a temperature of about 75° C. to about 85° C. and is maintained at this temperature for about 2 hour to about 4 hours to form a mixture comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method comprising the steps:

adding water to the mixture comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide at a temperature of about 5° C. to about 20° C. to form a biphasic liquid mixture consisting essentially of an upper aqueous phase and a lower phase comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide; and

separating the lower phase comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide of the biphasic liquid mixture from the upper aqueous phase of the biphasic liquid mixture.

In some embodiments, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is prepared by the method wherein the lower phase comprising the 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is substantially pure.

The phrase “2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is substantially pure”, as used herein, refers to the level of purity sufficient to be used in the next stage without further purification to prepare 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol.

In some embodiments, the lower phase comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide has a purity of about 90% or greater.

In some embodiments, the lower phase comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide has a purity of about 95% or greater.

In some embodiments, the lower phase comprising 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide has a purity of about 98% or greater.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide, wherein reacting is carried out at about 75° C. to about 85° C.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide, wherein the time is for about 120 minutes to about 240 minutes.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol with phosphorous tribromide for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide, wherein 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide is isolated by the addition of water.

Stage 2—Conversion of 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol

In Stage 2, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide was reacted with 1-amino-2-propanol to form the secondary amine, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol. 1-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol was separated from excess 1-amino-2-propanol and water soluble byproducts by extraction into toluene and removing water from the toluene containing 1-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol by azetropic distillation and can be used directly into the next step without further purification and without isolation.

Some embodiments of the present invention are methods for preparing 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide and 1-amino-2-propanol for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol or a salt thereof.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is substantially a free base.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide and 1-amino-2-propanol for a time and under conditions suitable for forming an alkylation mixture comprising 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method comprising the steps:

adding water to the alkylation mixture comprising 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol to form a biphasic mixture;

extracting 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol from the biphasic mixture with an extracting solvent comprising toluene to form a new biphasic mixture consisting essentially of an aqueous lower phase and an upper phase comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol;

separating the upper phase comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol from the aqueous lower phase; and

removing water from the upper phase comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol by azeotropic distillation to form a solution comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method wherein the solution comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol after azeotropic distillation contains about 2% water or less.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method wherein the solution comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol after azeotropic distillation contains about 1% water or less.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method wherein the solution comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol after azeotropic distillation contains about 0.5% water or less.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method wherein the solution comprising toluene and 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol after azeotropic distillation contains about 0.15% water or less.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is prepared by the method comprising reacting 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide and 1-amino-2-propanol for a time and under conditions suitable for forming an alkylation mixture comprising 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol, wherein reacting is carried out at about 85° C. to about 100° C.

In some embodiments, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is isolated by an aqueous extraction in the presence of toluene, whereby 1-amino-2-propanol and water soluble byproducts are removed and the resulting toluene solution of product is dried by azeotropic distillation.

Stage 3—Conversion of 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride

In Stage 3, the final step to prepare [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride, 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol was reacted with thionyl chloride in toluene with N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a catalyst.

The crude product was isolated from the reaction mixture by filtration and recrystallized from isopropanol (IPA) and water. The filtered solid [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride was washed with IPA and dried under vacuum. It has now been discovered that isopropanol (IPA) can be used to quench any excess thionyl chloride and the solid resulting after the quench surprisingly does not require a recrystallization step.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride comprising reacting 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol and thionyl chloride for a time and under conditions suitable for forming [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is prepared comprising the steps:

determining that 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is substantially converted to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride; and in a subsequent step

quenching any residual amount of thionyl chloride with a C₁₋₆ alcohol.

In some embodiments, the C₁₋₆ alcohol is isopropanol.

In some embodiments, in the determining step it is determined that the 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is converted to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride in an amount of about 98% or greater.

In some embodiments, the amount of 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol that is converted to [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is determined by HPLC.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is prepared in the presence of N,N-dimethylacetamide as a catalyst.

In some embodiments, the mole ratio of N,N-dimethylacetamide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is about 0.5 to 1 or less.

In some embodiments, the mole ratio of N,N-dimethylacetamide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is about 0.4 to 1 or less.

In some embodiments, the mole ratio of N,N-dimethylacetamide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is about 0.3 to 1 or less.

In some embodiments, the mole ratio of N,N-dimethylacetamide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is about 0.2 to 1 or less.

In some embodiments, the mole ratio of N,N-dimethylacetamide to 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol is about 0.1 to 1 or less.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is prepared in the presence of a solvent comprising toluene.

In some embodiments, after the quenching step the [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated by filtration.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is prepared by the method comprising reacting 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]propan-2-ol and thionyl chloride for a time and under conditions suitable for forming [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride, wherein reacting is carried out at a temperature of about 60° C. to about 65° C.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is prepared by the method comprising reacting 1-[2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol and thionyl chloride for a time and under conditions suitable for forming [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride, wherein [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride crystallizes from the reaction mixture and is isolated by filtration.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated with a purity of about 85% or greater.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated with a purity of about 90% or greater.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated with a purity of about 95% or greater.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated with a purity of about 98% or greater.

In some embodiments, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride is isolated with a purity of about 99% or greater.

Stage 4—Conversion of [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride to 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine

In Stage 4, the starting material, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride, typically about 90.0%, and in some embodiments greater than 99.0% purity, undergoes an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts cyclization to provide the racemic mixture designated as 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine, consisting of a 1:1 mixture of (R)- and (S)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine (free base). The backbone of the 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine was established during this reaction. 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine was purified by solvent extractions and removal of solvent by distillation. 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine was obtained as an oil with a typical purity of 35-40% for the desired enantiomer, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine (free base).

The improvements for Stage 4 centers around the isolation of the 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine. Here, instead of using NaOH as reported in WO2005/019179, water and silica get is used which is simply filtered. Furthermore, the mixture after filtration surprisingly forms a triphasic mixture (three layers), wherein the bottom layer consists mostly of 1,2-dichlorobenzene and only about 1% of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine. Therefore, the bulk of 1,2-dichlorobenzene can easily be removed from the mixture by simply draining the bottom layer away from the middle and top layers. Surprisingly, the middle layer consists mostly of the product, (R,S)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine, and is easily isolated by draining the middle layer from the aqueous top layer. The isolated middle layer is about 90% 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine. The top layer contains about 1% to about 4% of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine and can be isolated by extracting with an appropriate solvent, for example, cyclohexane. The formation of the triphasic mixture improves the volume efficiency for this stage and also eliminates the need for evaporating of the reaction solvent (i.e., 1,2-dichlorobenzene).

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine comprising reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I):

wherein reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ is carried out in the presence of 1,2-dichlorobenzene at a temperature of about 125° C. to about 130° C. for about 14 hours to about 18 hours under conditions suitable for forming the compound of Formula (I).

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I):

comprising the steps:

reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ in the presence of 1,2-dichlorobenzene at a temperature of about 120° C. to about 135° C. for about 14 hours to about 18 hours under conditions suitable for forming a crude reaction mixture comprising the compound of Formula (I);

contacting the crude reaction mixture with silica gel and water to form a suspension;

filtering the suspension to form a triphasic liquid mixture; and

isolating the compound of Formula (I) from the triphasic liquid mixture.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) further comprising the steps:

separating the top phase and the middle phase from the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture; and

isolating the compound of Formula (I) from the top phase and the middle phase.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture comprises 1,2-dichlorobenzene.

In some embodiments, the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains 1,2-dichlorobenzene in an amount of about 90% or greater.

In some embodiments, the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains 1,2-dichlorobenzene in an amount of about 95% or greater.

In some embodiments, the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains 1,2-dichlorobenzene in an amount of about 98% or greater.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the middle phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains the compound of Formula (I) in an amount greater than the amount of the compound of Formula (I) contained in the top phase or the bottom phase of the triphasic liquid mixture.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the middle phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains the compound of Formula (I) in an amount of about 80% or greater.

In some embodiments, the middle phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains the compound of Formula (I) in an amount of about 85% or greater.

In some embodiments, the middle phase of the triphasic liquid mixture contains the compound of Formula (I) in an amount of about 90% or greater.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the isolating step further comprises the steps:

separating the top phase from the middle phase;

extracting the compound of Formula (I) from the top phase with an extracting solvent and separating the extracting solvent comprising the compound of Formula (I) from the top phase;

combining the extracting solvent comprising the compound of Formula (I) together with the middle phase to form a combined mixture;

washing the combined mixture with a basic, aqueous solution and separating the basic, aqueous solution from the combined mixture to form a washed, combined solution; and

concentrating the washed, combined solution to provide the compound of Formula (I).

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the basic solution is aqueous sodium hydroxide.

In some embodiments, the basic, aqueous solution is about 10% to about 40% aqueous sodium hydroxide.

In some embodiments, the basic, aqueous solution is about 25% to about 35% aqueous sodium hydroxide.

In some embodiments, the basic, aqueous solution is about 30% aqueous sodium hydroxide.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (I) is about 65% pure or greater after the concentration step.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula (I) is about 70% pure or greater after the concentration step.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing a compound of Formula (I) wherein the extracting solvent is cyclohexane.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine comprising reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine, wherein reacting is carried out at about 125° C. to about 130° C.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine comprising reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine, wherein reacting is carried out at about 128° C.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine comprising reacting [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride with AlCl₃ for a time and under conditions suitable for forming 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine, wherein reacting is carried out for a time of about 14 hours to about 18 hours.

In-process control (IPC): HPLC content of [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride <1%. This stage is depicted in Synthetic Scheme 1.2.

Stage 5 and Stage 6—Conversion of 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine to (R)-8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate

In Stage 5, 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine was reacted with L-(+)-tartaric acid to form the crude diastereomeric salt (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate. In this stage, the resolution and purification of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate from process impurities, including the opposite enantiomer (i.e., S-enantiomer), was obtained by crystallization from an acetone/water mixture. The isolated cake typically had an achiral purity of greater than 99.0% and a chiral purity of 90% enantiomeric excess (ee).

In Stage 6, the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate crude cake was subjected to a second crystallization from acetone/water to afford the final intermediate, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate. (R)-8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate was tested and released to specifications and typically had an achiral purity of 100.0% and a chiral purity of greater than 99.0% ee. Additional recrystallization of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate from acetone/water can be repeated at this stage, if required, to increase % ee.

In the procedure reported in WO2005/019179, the solvent used in the salt forming step was t-butanol. The use of this solvent resulted in the crystallization of the crude hemitartrate with approximately 68-80% ee and less than about 99% ee after the singly recrystallized hemitartrate. An additional recrystallization was required to increase the % ee and as a result a decreased in the yield.

It has now been discovered that using acetone in the salt forming step, instead of t-butanol as described in WO2005/019179, eliminates the need for an additional recrystallization and also has a direct result on improving the yield. Accordingly, using acetone resulted in about 90% ee (compared to about 68-80% ee using t-butanol) and after only one recrystallization the hemitrate was about 99% or greater and in general about 99.7% ee.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for resolving a mixture of compounds of (R)/(S)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine comprising contacting the mixture of compounds with L-(+)-tartaric acid to form chiral resolving acid salts of the compounds, wherein the chiral resolving acid comprises substantially one stereoisomer; and precipitating the chiral resolving acid salts of the compounds, wherein the resulting precipitate is enriched in the chiral resolving acid salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for resolving a mixture of compounds of Formula (Ia) and (Ib):

comprising:

contacting the mixture of compounds with L-(+)-tartaric acid in the presence of a solvent comprising acetone to form L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of the compounds;

precipitating the L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of the compounds, wherein the resulting precipitate is enriched with the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia);

dissolving the precipitate in a solution comprising acetone and water to form a solution containing the dissolved precipitate;

cooling the solution containing the dissolved precipitate; and

precipitating a second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia).

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for resolving a mixture of compounds of Formula (Ia) and (Ib):

comprising:

contacting the mixture of compounds with L-(+)-tartaric acid in the presence of a solvent comprising acetone to form L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of the compounds;

precipitating the L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of the compounds, wherein the resulting precipitate is enriched with the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia);

dissolving the precipitate in a solution comprising acetone and water at a temperature of about 45° C. to about 60° C. to form a solution containing the dissolved precipitate;

cooling the solution containing the dissolved precipitate to a temperature of about −5° C. to about 10° C.; and

precipitating a second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia) with an enantiomeric excess of about 98% or greater.

In some embodiments, dissolving the precipitate in a solution comprising acetone and water is carried out at a temperature of about 45° C. to about 60° C. to form a solution containing the dissolved precipitate.

In some embodiments, cooling the solution containing the dissolved precipitate is carried out a temperature of about −5° C. to about 10° C.

In some embodiments, methods of the present invention include dissolving the precipitate in a solution comprising acetone and water at a temperature of about 55° C. to about 60° C. to form a solution containing the precipitate.

In some embodiments, methods of the present invention include cooling the solution containing the precipitate to a temperature of about 0° C. to about 5° C.

In some embodiments, the second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia) has an enantiomeric excess of about 98% or greater.

In some embodiments, the second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia) has an enantiomeric excess of about 98.5% or greater.

In some embodiments, the second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of the compound of Formula (Ia) has an enantiomeric excess of about 99% or greater.

In some embodiments, contacting the mixture of compounds with L-(+)-tartaric acid in the presence of a solvent comprising acetone is carried out at about 40° C. to about 55° C.

In some embodiments, contacting the mixture of compounds with L-(+)-tartaric acid in the presence of a solvent comprising acetone is carried out at about 47° C. to about 52° C.

IPC: Quantification of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine content; IPC: Chiral HPLC of wet product. This stage is depicted in Synthetic Scheme 1.3.

IPC: Chiral HPLC of wet product >98% ee. This stage is depicted in Synthetic Scheme 1.4.

Stage 7—Conversion of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate to (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate

In Stage 7, the enantiomerically pure (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate, from Stage 6, was converted to the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate in two additional chemical reactions that involved formation of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine free base and finally (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate. (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate then under went a final purification by crystallization from ethyl acetate. (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate was isolated as a crystalline solid and typically has an achiral purity of about 100.0% and a chiral purity of about 99.0% ee or greater. In some embodiments, achiral purity is about 98% or greater and a chiral purity of about 98% ee or greater.

The processes for the preparation of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate and anhydrous (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride were reported in PCT patent publications WO2006/069363 and WO2005/019179 respectively. The (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate was prepared using the anhydrous (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride in the presence of isopropanol, water and cyclohexane under an atmosphere of nitrogen.

It has now been discovered that (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate can be converted directly to (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate without isolation of the free base and without formation of the anhydrous (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl salt.

In general, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate is prepared comprising the steps:

1) neutralizing the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate to form the free base (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine;

2) contacting the free base (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine with HCl in the presence of water to form (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride; and

3) crystallizing the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride to form (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate.

One base that is particularly useful in neutralizing the hemitartrate salt is aqueous potassium carbonate. In contrast, it was found that when aqueous NaOH was used to neutralize (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate a difficult-to-separate emulsion was generated. However, aqueous potassium carbonate can be used that is essentially free of any emulsion when extracting the free base (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine after neutralizing. In addition, it was also found that ethyl acetate was particularly suitable for use in the steps of neutralizing, contacting and crystallizing to provide (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate. Ethyl acetate was also found particularly useful for the dissolution of concentrations of water appropriate for crystallizing the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II):

comprising the steps:

neutralizing 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzoazepinium hemitartrate of the formula:

with potassium carbonate in the presence of water and ethyl acetate to form a biphasic liquid mixture consisting essentially of an aqueous phase and an ethyl acetate phase comprising (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine of Formula (Ia):

separating the ethyl acetate phase of the biphasic liquid mixture from the aqueous phase of the biphasic liquid mixture;

contacting the ethyl acetate phase with HCl in the presence of water to form an HCl salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, wherein the ratio of water to (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine is at least 1 to 2; and

crystallizing the HCl salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine to form (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate.

In some embodiments, crystallizing the HCl salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine formed substantially pure (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II) wherein the water in the contacting step is substantially dissolved in the ethyl acetate phase.

In some embodiments, the water in the ethyl acetate phase is present in an amount of about 0.2% to about 2% by weight.

In some embodiments, the water in the ethyl acetate phase is present in an amount of about 0.2% to about 1% by weight.

In some embodiments, the water in the ethyl acetate phase is present in an amount of about 0.4% to 0.8% by weight.

In some embodiments, the water in the ethyl acetate phase is present in an amount of about 0.6% by weight.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II) wherein the biphasic liquid mixture is substantially emulsion-free.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II) wherein the contacting step is carried out at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 25° C.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II) wherein the HCl in the contacting step is in the form of a gas.

In some embodiments, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate is isolated with an achiral purity of about 99% or greater.

In some embodiments, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate is isolated with a chiral purity of about 99% or greater.

IPC: Water content of ethyl acetate layer <0.8%. This stage is depicted in Synthetic Scheme 1.5.

In summary, the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate process involves four chemical reactions and four purification operations. In Stage 4, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride was used to form the backbone of the molecule resulting in a crude product containing 35-40% of the desired enantiomer, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (free base). During Stage 5 and 6, the tartaric acid resolution and successive purification operations, which involve two crystallizations of the hemitartrate, afford a highly pure final intermediate, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate. In Stage 7, (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate was converted to a higher purity. The highly selective resolution using L-(+)-tartaric acid and successive crystallizations are the critical steps that afford high purity of the (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine.

The invention will be described in greater detail by way of specific examples. The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of noncritical parameters which can be changed or modified to yield essentially the same results.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Conversion of 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethanol to 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl Bromide

Raw Materials and Yield

 1.00 Kg 6.39 moles 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethanol (Starting Material) 0.869 Kg 3.21 moles Phosphorous Tribromide 0.599 Kg Purified Water  1.33 Kg 6.06 moles 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethyl Bromide (Product, assay corrected) 94.9% yield Volume Efficiency The volume efficiency was 1.76 L per Kg of 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol starting material or 758 g of 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide product (assay corrected) per liter. Process Description

To a reactor affixed with a vent to a caustic scrubber to capture HBr gas that might evolve during the reaction was added 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethanol (1.00 Kg, 6.39 moles, 1.00 equiv.). The reactor contents were cooled to 0° C. The feed pump and line were rinsed with cyclohexane (0.019 Kg), and the rinses were directed to waste disposal. To the cooled solution was added phosphorous tribromide (0.869 Kg, 3.21 moles, 0.503 equiv.) while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 0-10° C. The resulting reaction was highly exothermic and was controlled by the addition rate with a jacket temperature of −5° C. to −10° C. The feed pump and line was rinsed with cyclohexane (0.019 Kg), and the rinses were directed to waste disposal. The resulting reaction mixture was heated to 25° C. (20° C. to 30° C.), and stirring was continued at this temperature for 2 hours (1 to 3 hours). After this time, the reaction mixture was slowly heated to 80° C. (75 to 85° C.) over 60 minutes (45 to 75 minutes), and stirring at that temperature was continued for 3 hours (2 to 4 hours). A slightly turbid emulsion was formed upon heating. The reactor reactor contents were cooled to 22° C. and then a sample of the reaction mixture was analyzed for reaction completion (>99% by HPLC peak area). The reaction mixture was a thick but easily stirred emulsion. A receiver vented to a caustic scrubber was charged with purified water (0.514 Kg). The receiver contents were cooled to 5-20° C. The reaction mixture was transferred from the reactor to the receiver at a rate sufficiently slow to maintain the stirred receiver contents at about 15° C. The receiver contents were warmed to 35-40° C. and filtered through a polishing filter. The reactor was washed with additional purified water (0.085 Kg), and the washings were passed through the filter into the aqueous product mixture. The phases were allowed to separate at 35-40° C. The lower phase was drained from the upper phase. The lower phase weighed about 1.39 Kg and was about 96% pure 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide, which was therefore obtained in about 94.9% yield (assay corrected).

Example 2 Conversion of 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethyl Bromide to [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride

Raw Materials and Yield

1.71 Kg 22.8 moles 1-Amino-2-propanol 1.00 Kg 4.56 moles 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethyl Bromide (Starting Material, not corrected for assay) 8.40 Kg Toluene 1.16 Kg Purified Water 0.119 Kg  1.37 moles N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMA) 0.690 Kg  5.80 moles Thionyl chloride 3.31 Kg Isopropanol 0.865 Kg  3.22 moles [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro- propyl)-ammonium chloride (Product, not corrected for assay) 70.7% yield Volume Efficiency

The volume efficiency was 6.5 L per Kg of 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide starting material (not corrected for assay) or 133 g of [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride product (not corrected for assay) per liter.

Process Description Reaction 1: Conversion of 2-(4′-Chlorophenyl)ethyl Bromide to 1-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol

To a reactor was charged 1-amino-2-propanol (1.71 Kg, 22.8 moles, 5.00 equiv.). The reactor contents were heated to 85-90° C. The feed pump and line were rinsed with toluene (0.50 Kg), and the rinse was directed to waste disposal. To the reactor was added 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide (1.00 Kg, 4.56 moles, 1.00 equiv. not corrected for assay) over 45 minutes while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 100° C. The feed pump and line were rinsed with toluene (0.50 Kg), and the rinses were directed to waste disposal. The reaction mixture was stirred at 85-100° C. for 90 minutes and then cooled to 50° C. A sample of the reaction mixture was removed to verify reaction completion (>98%) by HPLC. Purified water was added (1.0 Kg) while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 70-75° C. While the stirred reactor contents continued to be maintained at 70-75° C., toluene was added (1.8 Kg). Stirring was maintained at that temperature for 20 minutes and then stopped to allow the layers to separate for 15 minutes. The lower aqueous layer at 70-75° C. was drained and extracted with additional toluene; either a single 1.6-Kg portion or two 0.52-Kg portions can be used. Toluene (1.0 Kg) was removed from the combined organic phases by vacuum distillation at 40-60° C. and 80-100 mbar. The distillation residue's water content was verified by Karl Fischer analysis to be <0.15%. If not, then more toluene was charged to the product mixture, and the vacuum distillation was continued until the Karl Fischer analysis was <0.15%.

Reaction 2: Conversion of 1-[2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethylamino]-propan-2-ol to [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride

To the stirred reactor contents at 42° C. was added N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA, 0.119 Kg, 1.37 moles, 0.30 equiv.) followed by toluene (1.6 Kg). The reactor vent was connected to a caustic scrubber to capture the sulfur dioxide and HCl gases evolved during the subsequent steps. The reactor contents were heated to 55° C. and then charged with thionyl chloride (0.690 Kg, 5.80 moles, 1.273 equiv.) at a rate sufficiently slow to maintain the stirred reactor contents at 50-60° C. During the addition, a suspension was formed and progressively thickened but remained stirrable. The feed line was rinsed into the reactor with toluene (1.0 Kg). Process volume peaked at this point at 6.5 L. The thick reaction slurry was stirred at 60-65° C. for 2-3 hours and then cooled to 17° C. A sample of the reaction mixture was obtained to determine reaction completion by HPLC. (Conversion was typically >99% by HPLC peak area.) The suspension was filtered. The reactor and the filtered solid product were washed with toluene (2.4 Kg). The resulting brown crude solid product was reslurried in a mixture of isopropanol (1.47 Kg) and purified water (0.157 Kg). The stirred slurry was heated to reflux (80-85° C.) for 0.5-1.0 hour. The resulting clear brown solution was cooled to 12° C. over 1.5 hours and stirring was continued at that temperature for another 1.5 hours. The resulting slurry was further cooled to 2° C. over 1.5 hours and stirring was continued at that temperature for another 1.5 hours. The product was isolated in a filter or a centrifuge at 2° C. The reactor and the wet cake were washed with isopropanol in several portions (up to five, 1.84 Kg total). The off-white to light beige wet product was dried under vacuum at 70° C. and 30 mbar. The isolated yield of [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride from 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide in the telescoped process was 0.865 Kg (70.7%, not corrected for assay).

Variation of Reactions 1 and 2

After the aqueous phase from Reaction 1 was extracted a second time with additional toluene (1.60 Kg) at 70-75° C., toluene (1.80 kg) was distilled off the combined organic phases at 40°-60° C. and 80-100 mbar. Make-up toluene (1.80 kg) was added to the distillation residue, and the water content of the resulting solution was verified to be <0.15% by Karl Fischer analysis. If the water content were >0.15%, then distillative removal of toluene (1.8 kg) and addition of fresh toluene (1.8 kg) would be repeated until it is <0.15%. Reaction 2 was then executed without adding any more toluene. After reaction conversion had been determined to be >99% by HPLC peak area, the reaction mixture was cooled to 0-5° C. 2-Propanol (1.06 kg) was then added sufficiently slowly to maintain the stirred reactor contents at 0-5° C. The addition was initially endothermic, but within two minutes, reaction of thionyl chloride became strongly exothermic (191 W/kg). The resulting mixture was stirred at 0-5° C. for an additional 1.5-2.5 hours to complete product precipitation and quenching of excess thionyl chloride. The solid product was then isolated by filtration. The reactor and then the product cake were washed thoroughly with three 1.00 kg-portions of cold 2-propanol. The washed product cake was vacuum dried at 80-85° C. and 30 mbar to provide colorless to beige [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride (0.916 kg, 74.9% yield from 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)ethyl bromide uncorrected for assay).

Example 3 Conversion of [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride to 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate

Raw Materials and Yield

1.00 Kg 3.72 mol [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro- propyl)-ammonium chloride (Starting Material) 0.745 Kg 5.58 mol Aluminum Chloride 4.04 Kg 30.3 mol 30% NaOH Solution 0.122 Kg 0.815 mol L-Tartaric Acid 0.160 Kg Silica Gel 60, 63-200 μm 5.63 Kg Purified Water 2.88 Kg 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1.10 Kg Cyclohexane 5.49 Kg Acetone 0.80 g 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate Seed Crystals 0.273 Kg 0.504 mol¹ 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate (Product, assay corrected) 27.1% yield² ¹Based on the 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate molecular formula that incorporates two 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine ammonium cations and that has molecular weight 541.46. ²Based on one mole of [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride starting material (m.w. 268.61) being able to produce a theoretical maximum of one-half mole of 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate product of mol. wt. 541.46. Volume Efficiency

The volume efficiency was 5.68 L per Kg of [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride starting material (not corrected for assay) or 46.7 g of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate product (corrected for assay) per liter.

Process Description Conversion of [2-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride to 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine

To a reactor equipped with overhead agitation, jacket temperature control, a nitrogen inlet, and a caustic scrubber vent were charged, in the specified order, [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride (1.00 Kg, 3.72 mol, 1.00 equiv.), aluminum chloride (0.745 Kg, 5.58 mol, 1.50 equiv.), and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (2.88 Kg). The stirred reactor contents were heated to 125-130° C., and stirring was continued at that temperature for 14-18 hours. At 60-70° C., a dark colored solution was obtained. After reaction completion (<1.0% starting material by HPLC peak area) had been verified, the stirred reactor contents were cooled to 30-35° C. To a second reactor vented to a caustic scrubber was charged purified water (1.60 L) and silica gel (0.160 Kg). The Friedel Crafts reaction mixture was transferred from the first reactor to the second reactor sufficiently slowly to maintain the stirred contents of the second reactor at <60° C. After the transfer is completed, the next step may be executed without any hold period. The silica gel was filtered on a medium to coarse filter element at 55-60° C., and the filtered solids were subsequently washed with purified water (800 mL) preheated to 50-60° C. The combined mother and wash liquor filtrates were cooled to 20-25° C. with vigorous agitation. Then the stirring was stopped, and the phases were allowed to separate at 20-25° C. (Process volume peaked at this point at 5.68 L). Three phases separated after 1-2 hours of standing. The lowest layer was drained to waste disposal. This dark layer consisted mostly of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1.64 Kg, 1.33 L) at pH 3-4. About 1% of the product was lost to this layer. The remaining two phases were allowed to stand without agitation for another 2-4 hours. The lower layer was drained and saved (Layer A). This light colored phase (2.64 Kg, 2.00 L, pH 2-3) contains ˜90% 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine. The upper layer (2.24 Kg of a turbid water phase at pH 0-1) contains ˜1-4% 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine and remained in the reactor for back-extraction. The reactor was charged with cyclohexane (1.10 Kg) and then 30% aqueous NaOH (2.44 Kg, 18.3 mol, 4.91 equiv.). The resulting mixture (5.60 L) was stirred vigorously for 30 minutes at room temperature. The stirring was stopped, and the phases were allowed to separate for 25-40 minutes. If the pH of the lower (aqueous) phase was >13, it was drained to waste disposal. Otherwise, more 30% aqueous NaOH was added, and this extraction was repeated. At pH 14, the aqueous phase contains <0.1% 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine free base. The remaining upper (organic) phase from the reactor was drained and saved (Layer B). The reactor was rinsed with purified water and followed by a suitable organic solvent to remove residual salts. The lower, light-colored product phase (the middle of the original three phases, Layer A) and the upper phase (organic, Layer B) were returned to the reactor. To the stirred reactor contents was added 30% aqueous NaOH (1.60 Kg, 12.0 mol, 3.23 equiv.). The reactor contents were stirred vigorously for 0.5 hours. The stirring was discontinued and the phases were allowed to separate over 15-30 minutes. The lower (aqueous) layer was drained to waste disposal. To the upper (organic) phase remaining in the reactor was added purified water (2.40 Kg). The reactor contents were stirred vigorously at 60-65° C. for 0.5 hours. The stirring was discontinued, and the phases were allowed to separate at 60-65° C. over 1.5-2 hours. The lower (aqueous) layer was drained to waste disposal. With a reactor jacket temperature of 55-60° C., solvent from the upper (organic) layer was removed by vacuum distillation at pressures starting at 115-152 torr and falling to 40 torr. The crude product, 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine as the free base, was obtained as a yellow to brown oil distillation residue.

Resolution of 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine to 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate

The distillation residue (crude 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine as the free base) was dissolved in acetone (0.400 Kg). The resulting solution was drained and weighed to assay the 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine content by HPLC. Results of the assay were used to calculate charges of acetone, L-tartaric acid, and water. The quantities indicated below are typical for achievement of the target 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine:acetone:L-tartaric acid:water mole ratio of 1.00:9.6:0.25:3.6 prior to addition of seed crystals. More acetone (1.415 Kg) was added to the reactor and the stirred reactor contents were heated to 47-52° C. To the resulting solution was added a solution of L-tartaric acid (0.1223 Kg, 0.815 mol, 0.219 equiv.) in purified water (0.211 Kg) at a steady rate over 5-15 minutes. A thin suspension formed during the addition but then redissolved when the mixture temperature was reestablished at 50° C. Hemitartrate seed crystals (0.80 g) were added to the 50° C. solution to achieve cloudiness and to initiate nucleation. Nucleation was allowed to continue for 2-3 hours with agitation at 47-52° C. Acetone (0.473 Kg) was added to the reactor while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 50° C. The resulting suspension was cooled to 0-5° C. slowly over 3-5 hours. Stirring was continued at 0° C. for another 1-3 hours. The resulting white precipitate was collected on a medium to fine filter element and then washed with a mixture of acetone (0.900 Kg) and purified water (0.054 Kg). The enantiomeric excess (ee) of the wet cake was determined

If the ee was <98%, the wet cake was transferred back into the reactor and reslurried in a mixture of acetone (1.90 Kg) and purified water (0.400 Kg) at 55-60° C. for 0.5-1 hour. If dissolution had not been achieved after one hour, then water (approximately 0.160 Kg) was added until a clear solution was achieved. The resulting mixture was then cooled to 0-5° C. slowly over 2-3 hours. Stirring at 0° C. was continued for another 3-5 hours. The resulting white precipitate was collected on a medium to fine filter element and then washed with acetone (0.400 Kg) at 0-4° C.

The washed solid product (296 g wet) was dried at 60-65° C. under full vacuum for 15-20 hours. The yield of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate, with about 99.7% ee and 7.5 wt. % water content, was 295 g (27.1% based on racemic [2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-ethyl]-(2-chloro-propyl)-ammonium chloride and corrected for product water content).

Example 4 Conversion of 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium Hemitartrate to (R)-8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine Hemihydrate

Raw Materials and Yield

1.00 Kg 1.71 mol¹ 8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H- benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate (Starting Material) 0.508 Kg 3.68 mol Potassium Carbonate 5.40 Kg Purified Water 10.2 Kg Ethyl Acetate 0.127 Kg 3.47 mol Hydrogen Chloride Gas 1.33 g (R)-8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate Seed Crystals 0.741 Kg 3.07 mol (R)-8-Chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- 1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate (Product, not corrected for assay) 89.9% yield² ¹Based on the 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate molecular formula that incorporates two 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine ammonium cations and that has molecular weight 541.46. The moles are corrected for assay, but the weight was not. ²Based on one mole of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate starting material of mol. wt. 541.46 being able to produce a theoretical maximum of two moles of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate product (m.w. 241.16). Volume Efficiency

The volume efficiency was 6.91 L per Kg of 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate starting material (not corrected for assay) or 107 g of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate product (not corrected for assay) per liter.

Process Description

To a reactor equipped with overhead agitation and a nitrogen inlet was charged, in the specified order, 8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepinium hemitartrate (1.00 Kg containing 7.5 wt % water, 1.71 mol, 0.500 equiv.), potassium carbonate (0.508 Kg, 3.68 moles, 1.076 equiv.), ethyl acetate (2.68 Kg), and purified water (2.68 Kg). The resulting mixture was stirred at 20-25° C. for 30-40 minutes, and then the phases were allowed to separate over 0.5-1 hour. The lower (aqueous) phase was drained to waste disposal. Purified water (2.68 Kg) was added to the reactor, and the resulting mixture was vigorously stirred for 10-20 minutes. The phases were allowed to separate over 1-1.5 hour. The lower (aqueous) phase was drained to waste disposal. With the reactor contents at a temperature of 40-45° C., the solvent was removed by vacuum distillation at pressures falling from 153 torr to 46 torr. The residue was cooled to 20-25° C. Ethyl acetate (3.81 Kg) was charged to the reactor, and the distillation residue was dissolved with stirring. The water content of the resulting solution was verified by Karl Fischer analysis to be <0.8 wt. %. The solution was filtered through a polishing filter. The reactor was rinsed through the filter with ethyl acetate (2.33 Kg) previously verified by Karl Fischer analysis to have <0.05 wt. % water content. Both the solution and rinse filtrates were charged back into the reactor. Purified water (39.9 g) was added to the reactor. The stirred reactor contents were cooled to 0-5° C., and then HCl gas (19.0 g, 0.521 mol, 0.153 equiv.) was added while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 0-5° C. (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate seed crystals (1.33 g) were added to the stirred reactor contents to initiate nucleation at 0-5° C. The remaining HCl gas (107.6 g, 2.95 mol, 0.864 equiv.) was charged to the reactor at a steady rate over at least 1.5-2 hours while the stirred reactor contents were maintained at 0-5° C. The resulting suspension was stirred at 0-5° C. for 2 hours. The resulting white precipitate was collected on a medium to fine filter element. The reactor and then the filtered solid product were washed with ethyl acetate (1.33 Kg). The wet cake (ca. 867 g) was dried at full vacuum and 33-37° C. for 20 hours or until the cake temperature had been stable for 4 hours, whichever occurred first. The resulting (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hemihydrate (3.7 wt. % water content, 14.7% chloride content, <0.01% ROI, >99.6% ee, >99% HPLC purity, and <0.1% wrong isomer content) was obtained in a yield of about 741 g (89.9%).

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing a compound of Formula (I):

comprising the steps: contacting a mixture comprising Formula (I) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene with silica gel and water to form a suspension; filtering said suspension to form a triphasic liquid mixture; and isolating said compound of Formula (I) from said triphasic liquid mixture.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps: separating the top phase and the middle phase from the bottom phase of said triphasic liquid mixture; and isolating said compound of Formula (I) from the top phase and the middle phase.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the bottom phase of said triphasic liquid mixture comprises 1,2-dichlorobenzene.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the middle phase of said triphasic liquid mixture contains said compound of Formula (I) in an amount greater than the amount of said compound of Formula (I) contained in the top phase or the bottom phase of said triphasic liquid mixture.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the middle phase of said triphasic liquid mixture contains said compound of Formula (I) in an amount of about 80% or greater.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said isolating step further comprises the steps: separating the top phase from the middle phase; extracting said compound of Formula (I) from the top phase with an extracting solvent and separating said extracting solvent comprising said compound of Formula (I) from the top phase; combining said extracting solvent comprising said compound of Formula (I) together with the middle phase to form a combined mixture; washing said combined mixture with a basic, aqueous solution and separating said basic, aqueous solution from said combined mixture to form a washed, combined solution; and concentrating said washed, combined solution to provide said compound of Formula (I).
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said basic solution is aqueous sodium hydroxide.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said extracting solvent is cyclohexane.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: resolving said compound of Formula (I).
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein resolving said compound of Formula (I) comprises: preparing a L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of a compound of Formula (Ia)


11. The method according to claim 10, wherein preparing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of a compound of Formula (Ia) comprises contacting said compound of Formula (I) with L-(+)-tartaric acid in the presence of a solvent comprising acetone to form L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of compounds of Formula (Ia) and Formula (Ib);

and precipitating said L-(+)-tartaric acid salts of said compounds of Formula (Ia) and Formula (Ib), wherein the resulting precipitate is enriched with the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of said compound of Formula (Ia).
 12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: neutralizing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of said compound of Formula (Ia) to form a free base (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine; contacting said free base (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine with HCl to form a (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride; and crystallizing said (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride in the presence of water to form (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride hemihydrate of Formula (II):


13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: neutralizing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of said compound of Formula (Ia) of the formula:

with potassium carbonate in the presence of water and ethyl acetate to form a biphasic liquid mixture consisting essentially of an aqueous phase and an ethyl acetate phase comprising (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine of Formula (Ia):

separating said ethyl acetate phase of said biphasic liquid mixture from the aqueous phase of said biphasic liquid mixture; contacting said ethyl acetate phase with HCl in the presence of water to form an HCl salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine, wherein the ratio of water to (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine is at least 1 to 2; and crystallizing said HCl salt of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-IH-3-benzazepine to form (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II):


14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said biphasic liquid mixture is substantially emulsion-free.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said contacting step is carried out at a temperature of about 0° C. to about 25° C.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the HCl in said contacting step is in the form of a gas.
 17. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II):


18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: dissolving said precipitate enriched with the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of said compound of Formula (Ia) in a solution comprising acetone and water at a temperature of about 45° C. to about 60° C. to form a solution containing the dissolved precipitate; cooling said solution containing the dissolved precipitate to a temperature of about −5° C. to about 10° C.; and precipitating a second precipitate containing the L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of said compound of Formula (Ia) with an enantiomeric excess of about 98% or greater.
 19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: preparing (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine HCl hemihydrate of Formula (II):

from said compound of Formula (I). 